A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dubai vs. Mexico City for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Dubai or Mexico City?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Mexico City can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Dubai or Mexico City?

Dubai

Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.

Mexico City

Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.

Which city is cheaper, Mexico City or Dubai?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $198, while the average daily cost in Mexico City is $141. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Dubai and Mexico City in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Dubai $136
    Mexico City $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Dubai $272
    Mexico City $46
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Mexico City

Looking for a hotel in Dubai or Mexico City? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Dubai


Hotels in Mexico City


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Dubai Hotel Prices and Mexico City Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Dubai $10
    Mexico City $9.09
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:


  • Taxi Ride
    $12
  • Airport Taxi
    $12
  • Sea Taxi
    $0.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai

Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • airport transfers/arival and departures: $28
  • Zipline Experience in Dubai Marina with Private transfers: $286
  • Wild Wadi tickets with Sharing Transfers: $87
  • Wild Wadi Without Transfer: $92
  • Wild Wadi Waterpark Experience with Private Transfers: $150
  • Wild Wadi Water Park with Transfer: $100
  • Wild Wadi Water Park in Dubai With 2 way Transfer: $125
  • Wild Wadi Water Park Dubai on Sharing Transfer: $72
  • Wild Wadi Tickets with Transfers: $110
  • Wild Wadi Dubai water park Entrance with Optional Private transfers in Dubai: $66
  • Wheelchair Accessible Airport Transfer in Dubai: $107
  • Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi with Private Transfer From Dubai for 1 to 6 people: $808

Typical Local Transportation prices in Mexico City

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:


  • Metro
    $1.03
  • Uber Ride
    $3.62

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City

Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Business Transfer from Mexico City Airport (MEX) to Mexico City Center: $158
  • Private Business Transfer from Mexico City Center to Mexico City Airport (MEX): $158
  • Private Airport Transfer between Chiang Mai to/from Chiang Rai: $156
  • Private Departure Transfer from Mexico City hotels to Mexico City airport: $103
  • Departure Private Transfer Mexico City to Mexico City Airport MEX in an SUV: $100
  • Private Departure Transfer Mexico City to Mexico City Airport: $88
  • Sedan Car Private MX Airport Transfer: $84
  • Private Round Transfer from Mexico City Airport: $74
  • Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury Van: $67
  • Mexico Airport Transfers : Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury SUV: $67
  • Departure Private Transfers: Mexico City to Mexico Airport MEX in Luxury Van: $67
  • Mexico City Airport Round Shared Transfer: $66

Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Mexico City?

Prices for flights to both Mexico City and Dubai change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Dubai $45
    Mexico City $19
Typical Food prices in Dubai

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:


  • French bread
    $0.95
  • Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice
    $10
  • Lemon Mint Tea
    $4.36
  • Coffee & Cake
    $6.53
  • Smoothie
    $5.45
  • Shawarma
    $1.91

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai

For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet: $17
  • Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
  • Dubai Deira Cruise with International Buffet Dinner with Live Shows: $19
  • Cruising with Dinner and Live Shows at Dubai Creek: $20
  • Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $20
  • Dhow Dinner Cruise at Dubai Creek (Without Transfers): $20
  • Sail along the Dubai Creek Dhow cruise with a delectable Dinner from AED 60: $21
  • Sightseeing Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $21
  • Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai: $22
  • Dhow Cruise Dinner on Dubai Creek: $22
  • Evening Dhow Dinner Cruise in Dubai: $22
  • Dubai Creek 2-Hour Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $23

Typical Food prices in Mexico City

For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch for Two
    $11
  • Coffee and Snacks
    $4.03

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City

For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traveling Spoon Mexican Tacos and Tortillas Private Online Cooking Class: $27
  • Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Mexico City Private Food Tour: $60
  • Private Contemporary Mexican Cooking Class Inspired by Family Recipes: $68
  • 3–Hour Polanco Food Tour: $75
  • Mexican Cooking Class: $79
  • Mexico City Private Traditional Pre-Hispanic Cooking Class: $83
  • Private Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Coyoacan Apartment: $86
  • Wrestling show and a Mexican dinner: $101
  • Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class with a Local in Coyoacan: $105
  • Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Local Home: $106
  • Authentic Mexican Cooking Lesson With a Gastronomic Historian in Mexico City: $109
  • Dinner at El Lago Lakeside Restaurant Mexico City: $110

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Dubai $15
    Mexico City $10
Typical Entertainment prices in Dubai

For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Visit to the Dubai Museum
    $0.82

Tours and Activities in Dubai

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.

  • "Glimps of History"-4 Hrs Dubai city tour: $163
  • 04 Days Best of Dubai With Desert Safari, Dhow Cruise and City Tour: $305
  • 1 Day 2 Tours Combo: $76
  • 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour of Dubai Atlantis: $153
  • 1 Hour Private 800cc Buggy Tour Good for 2 persons: $220
  • 1 Hour Private Jet Ski Tour in Dubai: $195
  • 1 hour Mina Seyahi Jetski Tour: $160
  • 1.5-Hours Dubai Historic Old Town Walking Tour: Covid-19 safe & PRIVATE tour: $60
  • 1001 Adventure Tour: $71
  • 12 Hours Dubai Stopover Tour: $350
  • 12-Minute Dubai Helicopter Tour: $176
  • 2 Days TRIO-Dubai City Tour with Desert Safari and Full Day Abu Dhabi City Tour.: $136

Tours and Activities in Mexico City

For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 15-Day Trip in Mexico: North 2 South Adventures: $1,553
  • 2 Days Private Guided Tour: City of the Gods, Xochimilco: $192
  • 6-Night Best of Central Mexico Tour: Teotihuacan Pyramids, Taxco, Cuernavaca and Puebla from Mexico City: $575
  • 7 Day-Monarch Butterfly Ecofriendly Tour in Mexico: $2,369
  • 8-Day Best of Mexico Tour: Mexico City to Cancun: $1,475
  • Afternoon Private Tour: Teotihuacan: $132
  • Amazing 5 day Cycling & Adventure trip in Veracruz with NOMAD Adventures: $2,254
  • Anthropology Museum Teotihuacan Pyramids and Mexico City Private Tour: $221
  • Artist Studio Tour in Mexico City: $140
  • Atvforestal Special 2 to 3 hour Tour (2 Atv´s, 2 Riders): $270
  • Best of Mexico City Private Tour: $129
  • Buenos Aires by Night Private City Tour with Tango Show: $190

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Dubai $18
    Mexico City $14
Typical Alcohol prices in Dubai

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:


  • A Couple Drinks
    $25

Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:

  • Full-Day Peña de Bernal Wine Tours: $220

About these numbers

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Mexico City, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Mexico City much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Mexico City is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Mexico City would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mexico City and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai than you might in Mexico City.

Budget Your Trip

Budget Your Trip has average travel costs for thousands of cities around the world, all provided by other travelers. You can also register to organize your spending by category and location with graphs, maps, charts, and tables.
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Dubai vs. Mexico City Travel Comparison

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